Rock drilling motor



Patented May 21, 1935 PATENT orslcs.

KOQK. DRILLING MOTOR ElmlenG. Gartin, (llaremont N'. H., assignor to Sullivan Machinery Company, a corporation of Massachusetts Applicationlllay 31,1932, Serial No. 614,495

22' Glaims;

My invention relates torock drilling motors,

and more particularlyto rock drilling motors of the type employed for; the drilling of dry holes from which it is desired-to blow the cuttings.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved drilling motor of the type specified. Another object of my invention is; to provide; an improved hole blowingapparatus for use with rock drills, whichwill involve a minimum of change. from a standard motor construction in which the facilities for this operationare not present. A further object of my invention. is to provide an improved rock drilling mechanism in which the hole blowing operation may be controlled readily by the normal drill tln'ottle operating devices. Other objects andadvantages of the invention will hereinafter more fully appear.

In theaccompanying drawing, in, whichone preferred form and, two modifications.- of my inven-tion are shown for purposes of illustration-,-

Fig. 1 is, in the main, 2.- central longitudinal vertical section through. aorock drilling motor in which the preferred embodiment of my invention is incorporated, some parts of the motor being shown in elevation and the parts being shown'in the position for hole blowing.

Fig... 2: is a fragmentary view showing the same: motor with the parts in one of. the normal running positions.

Fig. 3 is a smaller fragmentary viewshowing the distributing valve mechanism. in a'difierent. running position;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section illustrating modification.

Fig. 5' an axial. section showing afurther modification.

Figs. 6 and '7 are transverse; sections through. the modification of Fig. 5, the sections being taken on planes corresponding to the lines 6-6 and l -l of Fig. 5.

The illustrated formof' tool has'a cylinder I which is embraced at its rearend by a head block or casing 2, on which a handle 3, having, suit:-- a-ble grasping. portions 4,, is mounted. At the forward end of the cylinder there-is provided a chuck 5 which is adapted to; receive the shank or head of a hollow drilling tool 6; the inner end of this shank being positioned to receive blowsfroma hammer piston lwhich is reciprocable within the cylinder. The hammer piston is: actuated by pressure fluid controlledby a pres-- sure actuated valve 8, which is of the type thrown in one direction by constantpressure and. in the opposite direction by piston controlled pressure. The valve is herein located inal-inement with the piston and at the rear end thereof, within a valve chamber formed in, a valve block Slwhich is seated in the casing 2. Between the valve block and the. cylinder there is provided a plate It having a rearwardly projecting boss |.l-. Pressure fluid is conducted to the tool from any suitable source, through a supply pipe [2 and past a throttling valve t3, later more fully described, at the rear end of the valve block. At its rear end the distributing valve chamber communicates l0; witha constant pressure chamber l4 to which, through an opening l5, pressure. is suppliedas long as the throttle valve i3 is unseated. The communication of the valve chamber with the constant pressure chamber M isthroug-han open.- 16 log of reduced cross sectional area, and the valve has a contracted portion; 8 5 slidable in the opening and constantly exposed to. live fluid pressure in the constant pressure chamber. The valve chamber is provided also with a constant pressure 20.. groove it, to which the live pressure fluid is constantly admitted, during the time when the throttle is open, through one ormore-longitudinalpassages H, the latter extending from the groove rearwardly to the space to which the throttle valve 25. admits pressure. In the rear position of. the valve (shown in Figs. 1 and 31) working pressure isconducted from the pressure-groove Hi to the foiward end, of the cylinder to return the piston, by way of a circumferential valve groove I11, and one or more longitudinally extending. passages l8, which open into the forward end of the cylinder through ports Is. In the forward position of the valve, working pressure fluid is conducted to the rear end of the cylinder from the pressure groove it, through the circumferential valve groove ll on the valve, to a valve block groove 2-0, and thence forwardly through the longitudinal passage or passages 2 i to the rear end of the cylinder.

Exhaust is effected from the rear end of the cyl- 4 inder when the valve is inits rearward position, through the passages 2|, the valve block groove 20.. an exhaust valve groove 24, an exhaust passage 25, an exhaust space 26 in the member 2, and. a terminal exhaust passage 21. From the forward. end of the cylinder exhaust takes place in part through the hollow steel through a bore 28, which is closed by the striking portion 29- of the piston when the latter is in forward position, and in part through port I9, passage l8, and pas 59 sages 3!) connecting the spacesurrounding thevalve portion I5 with the exhaust space 26. When the piston l is in its forward position, the reduced portion 29 fills the opening 28. and; wholly prevents the escape of air from the for--* ward end of the cylinder to the hollow steel, so that live air admitted through the port is will force the piston rearwardly. However, as soon as the portion 29 is Withdrawn from the bore 28, the air ahead of the forward end of the piston is connected with the bore of th hollow steel 6.

The valve is reciprocated by differential pres sure, means being provided for intermittently applying pressure fiuid to the forward or larger area of the valve to lift it intermittently against the constant pressure in the pressure chamber i i. For this purpose, the valve is constructedin the form of a hollow shell, the interior of which is partially filled by the plug l l previously mentioned, the latter having a groove or passage 32 formed in its side connecting with an intermittent pressure passage 33. The passage 33 is connected by two ports 34 and 35, opening into the cylinder chamber at difierent points spaced from each other longitudinally of the cylinder, with the cylinder bore; the port 34 being substantially in the same transverse plane as a second port 36, which last is in constant communication with the constant pressurechamber id through the longitud' inalpassage 31. When the piston moves forward, the port as is connected with the constant pressure port 36 by means of a reduced portion 38 on the piston, and the valve is reversed by pressure admitted to the large area thereof from the constant pressure chamber through ports 37, 3% and passages 33 and 32. On the other hand, when the piston moves backward, pressure fluid is exhausted from the larger area of the valve by the piston uncovering the port 35 and connecting the latter to exhaust through the bore 28 and hollow steel; a sufiicient pressure drop following the withdrawal of nose 29 from bore 28 to permit constant pressure on the reduced upper end of the valve to overcome the reduced pressure below the valve.

Through the reciprocation of the valve' and I the transfer of pressure fluid through the described ports and passages, the hammer piston is caused to move reciprocatively within the cyl inder and to deliver its blows against the head of the tool with great rapidity, in a manner which will be obvious from the description given.

When it is desired to efiect a more positive cleaning out of cuttings from the bottom of a hole being drilled, this may be accomplished by merely adjusting the throttle valve position. It will be noted, upon reference to Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, that the throttle valve l3 has a long stem 40 which is provided with three annular grooves: a groove 4| next the valve 13, through which the motor operating fluid supply is conducted; agroove 42, and a groove 43. Grooves 42 and 43 are connected by a longitudinally ex tending fluidconducting connection, herein in the form of a'longitudinal groove 44. A passage 45, extending from the constant pressure chamber M to the bore 46 in which stem 45 moves,

the valve stem groove 43 in about the samethrottle positions as prevail when groove 42 and passage 45 are in communication. From the description given, it will be evident that with the throttle fullopen the chamber M is under substantially line pressure, but when the throttle is, say, half open, the constant pressure is vented through passage 45, grooves 42, t l, 53, passage 41', space 26 and exhaust 2?. In the closed position of the throttle, no air enters the motor at all. A pivoted lever 49 operates the throttle valve.

From the description given, the mode of operation of this preferred form of the invention will be clear. In the throttle valve position shown in Fig. 1, the distributing valve will be held in rear position, because the constant pres sure chamber it is vented, and accordingly the air flowing to the forward end of the cylinder I will hold the piston back and provide a good .blow through passage ll, port i6, groove i'i, passage l8 and port l9; it being obvious that the relative areas-of passages l5, E5, andll' and the valve grooves will be suitably proportioned to attain the needed reduction in pressure within chamber M. It will be noted that in the relativeposition of the parts shown in Fig. l, pressure from below the piston passes through 35, 33 and 32 to the space beneath valve 8, and so holds the latter up. When the throttle i3 is moved to full open position, pressure builds up in chamber [4 and the motor runs normally.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4, a throttle valve 13' is carried by a reciprocatory stem 49' which has only a single groove 4!. The venting of the constant pressure chamber it is effected through a passage 59, a separate finger-operable, spring-loaded vent valve 5!, and an ex haust port 52. With this arrangement, the running motor may be stopped and the hole blown at any time by merely opening the valve 5|.

In Figs. 5, 6 and 7 there is used a throttle valve 53, which is both rotatable and reciprocable.' The stem 54 is grooved at 65 for the main motor supply, and has an arcuate groove 56 communicable with the passage 57 leading to the space it and adapted to connect this space with an exhaust passage 58 upon rotation of the throttle by a special handle 69. Any usual lever or the like, 19, may be used to reciprocate the throttle valve 63 to control the main air supply. It will be seen that the operator will normally control the speed of the motor by longitudinal movement of valve 53, and will eilect hole blowing by turning the valve by means of the handle 59.

In each form of my invention, it will be seen that there is provided a very simple, effective arrangement, cooperating with the main distributing valve, and operating by relieving one of the throwing pressures therefor, for effecting hole blowing. V

While I have in this application specifically described one form which my invention may assume-in practice, and two modifications thereof, it will be understood that these forms are shown for illustrative purposes only and that the invention may be further modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A pressure fluid motor comprising a cylinder, a piston therein, a fluid actuated valve controlling the movements of said piston and having an area normally subjected to constant pressure, a throttle valve for controlling the fluid supply to said motor, and means controlled by said throttle valve for venting the pressure supplied to said area to interrupt valve movement.

2. A fluid pressure motor comprising a cylinder, a piston therein, a fluid pressure actuated valve controlling movements of said piston and having an area subjected to -constant pressure during normal motor operation; and controlling means for saidmotor including a valve member having portions-respectively cont'rolling the main supply of fluid tothe motor and venting of pressure supplied to said area. i I

A fluid pressure motor comprising a cylinder, a piston therein, a fluid pressure actuated valve controlling movements of said piston and having an area subjected to constant pressure during normal motoroperation, and controlling means for saidrnotor including a valve member having portions respectively controlling the main supply of fluid to the motor and venting of pre sure supplied to said area and means for reciprocating said valve to eflect one of said controlling functions and rotating the same to eflect the other. 7 i

4. A fluid pressure motor comprising a cyl: inder, a piston therein, a'fluid pressure actuated valve controlling movements of sa-i'd-piston-and having an area subjected to constant pressure during normal motor operation, and controlling means for said motor including a valve member having portions respectively controlling the main supplyof fluid to the motor and venting of pressure supplied to said area and means for reciprocating said valve to effect the first named function and rotating the same to effect the second named function. i r r 5. A fluid pressure motor comprising a cylinder, a piston therein, a fluid pressure actuated valve controlling the movement of said piston and having an area subjected to constant pressure during normal motor operation, and controlling means for' said motor including a plurality of relatively movable valves respectively controlling the supply of motive fluid to the motor and the throwing pressure acting on said pressure area on said fluid pressure actuated valve.

6. A fluid pressure motor comprising a cylinder, a piston therein, a fluid pressure actuated distributing valve controlling the movement of said piston and having an area subjected to constant pressure during normal motor operation,

and controlling means for said motor including a plurality of relatively movable valves respectively controlling the supplyof motive fluid to the motor and the venting of the throwing pressure on said pressure area on said fluid pressure actuated valve.

7. In a percussive tool, the combination with a drilling motor having a cylinder and piston, a hollow drill steel, a throttle valve for controlling the fluid supply to said motor, means for supplying fluid from said cylinder to said hollow drill steel to eflect hole blowing, and a distribu ing valve for said motor actuated by pressure fluid, of means for controlling said distributing valve to effect hole blowing including a valve movable with said throttle valve for partially venting valve throwing pressure fluid.

8. In a percussive tool, the combination with a drilling motor having a cylinder and piston, a hollow drill steel, means for supplying fluid from said cylinder to said hollow drill steel to eflect hole blowing, and a distributing valve for said motor actuated by pressure fluid, of means for controlling said distributing valve to effect hole blowing including a valve for partially venting valve throwing pressure fluid, said valve having associated therewith a second-valve for controlling the main motive fluid supply to said motor,

and common operating means for said two last mentioned valves. i i

9'. In a percussive tool, the combination with a drilling motor having a cylinder and piston, a

hollow drill steel, means'for supplying fluid from said cylinder to said hollow drill steel toeffect hole blowing, and a distributing valve for said motor actuated by pressure fluid, of means for controlling said distributing valve to effect hole blowing including a valve for partially venting valve throwing pressure fluid, said valve having associated therewith a second valve for controlling the main motive fluid supply to said motor, and said valves having common actuating means. 16. In a percussive too1, the combination with a drilling motor having a cylinder and piston, a hollow drill steel,'a throttle valve for controlling the fluid supply to said motor, means for supplying fluid from said cylinder to said hollow drill steel to effect hole'blowing, and a distributing valve for said motor actuated by pressure fluid and having surfaces respectively continuously and intermittently subjected to' throwing'pressures during normal operation, of means for C011, trolling said distributing valve to effect hole blowing including a valve movable withzsaid throttle valve for partially ventingvalve throw.- ing pressure fluid from the surface normally continuously subjected to valve throwing pressure;

11. A fluid pressure motor comprising. a cylinder, a piston therein, a fluid pressure: actuated valve controlling movements of said piston and having an area subjected. to constant pressure during normal motor operation, and controlling means for said motor including a valve member operable to control the mai supply of fluid to motor and, while fluid. continues to flow to said motor, to control variablyrthe pressure acting on said area.

12. A fluid pressure motor comprising a cylinder, a piston therein, a fluid pressure actuated valve controlling movements of said piston and having an area subjected to constant pressure during normal motor operation, controlling means for said motor including a valve member operable to control the main supply of fluid to said motor and the pressure acting on said area, and means for reciprocating said valve member to eifect one of said controlling functions and rotating the same to eflect the other.

13. A fluid pressure motor comprising a cylinder, a piston therein, a fluid pressure actuated valve controlling movements of said piston and having an area subjected to constant pressure during normal motor operation, controlling means for said motor including a valve member operable to control the main supply of fluid to said motor and the pressure acting on said area, and means for reciprocating said valve to effect the first named function and rotating the same to effect the second named function.

14. A pressure fluid motor comprising a cylinder, a piston therein, a fluid pressure actuated distributing valve controlling the movement of said piston, and controlling means for said motor including a reciprocable valve member for controlling the supply of motive fluid to the motor and, while fluid continues to flow to said motor, to control variably the action of the distributing valve.

15. A pressure fluid motor comprising a cylinder, a 'iston therein, a fluid pressure actuated distributing valve controlling the movement of said piston, controlling means for said motor including a valve member for controlling the supply' of motive fluid to the motor and, while fluid continues to flow to said motor, to control variably the action of the distributing valve, and means for moving said valve member into one position to effect one controlling function and into another position to effect the other function.

16. A pressure fluid motor comprising a cylinder, a piston therein, a fluid pressure actuated distributing valve controlling the movement of said piston, and controlling means for said motor including a valve member for controlling the supply of motive fluid to the motor and the venting of distributing valve throwing pressure, and means for moving said valve member into one position to effect one controlling function and into another position to effect the other.

17. A pressure fluid motor comprising a cylinder, 2. piston therein, a fluid actuated distributing valve controlling the movement of said piston and having an area normally subjected to constant pressure, and control means having a manual control element and operable at Wiil for venting the pressure supplied to said constant pressure area while fluid is constantly supplied to the latter to interrupt valve movement, said control means being movable by manual pressure on said control element from its inoperative position to its operative venting position.

18. A pressure fluid motor comprising a cylinder, a piston therein, a fluid actuated distributing valve controlling the movement of said piston and having an area normally subjected to constant pressure, and means for venting the pressure supplied to said area to interrupt valve movementwhile the supply of live pressure fluid to said area is uninterrupted.

19. A pressure fluid motor comprising a cylinder, a'piston therein, a fluid pressure, actuated distributing valve controlling movement of said piston and having an area subjected to constant pressure during normal motor operation, and controlling means for said motor including a valve member operable to control the main supply of fluid to said motor and the pressure acting on said area while the flow of fluid to said area remains uninterrupted.

20. A pressure fluid motor comprising a cylinder, 2. piston therein, a fluid actuated distributing valve controlling the movement of said piston, said distributing valve being in the form of a hollow sleeve having a closed end presenting an area on which pressure fluid constantly acts, and means for venting the pressure supplied to said area to interrupt valve movement'while the flow of pressure fluid to said area remains uninterrupted.

21. A fluid pressure motor comprising a cylinder, a piston therein, a fluid pressure actuated valve controlling movements of said piston and having an area subjected to constant pressure during normal motor operation, and controlling means for said motor including a valve member operable in one position to control the main supply of fluid to said motor and in another position, While fluid is continuously supplied to said motor, variably to control the pressure acting on said area.

22. A fluid pressure motor comprising a cylinder, 2. piston therein, a fluid pressure actuated valve controlling movements of said piston and having an area subjected to constant pressure during normal motor operation, and controlling eans for said motor including valve means operable to control the main supply of fluid to said motor and, While fluid continues to flow to said motor under the control of said valve means, to control variably the pressure acting on said area.

' ELMER G. GARTIN. 

